Malagò and Abete FIGC Presidential candidacies are now official

Malagò and Abete FIGC Presidential candidacies are now official

Giovanni Malagò and Giancarlo Abete have now formally filed the necessary paperwork required to run for the FIGC Presidency ahead of the election to appoint a successor to Gabriele Gravina on June 22.

FIGC Presidential candidates now official

The Italian football federation (FIGC) will hold an election to appoint a new President following the resignation of Gravina in the aftermath of Italy’s failure to qualify for the 2026 World Cup.

BOLOGNA, ITALY – JUNE 4: President Gabriele Gravina of the FIGC looks on during the international Friendly match between Italy and Turkiye at Renato Dall’Ara Stadium on June 4, 2024 in Bologna, Italy. (Photo by Gabriele Maltinti/Getty Images)

It has widely been expected that Malagò, former President of the Italian Olympic committee (CONI) and Abete, current President of the amateur divisions (LND), would run for the FIGC Presidency, but their candidacies have only been formalised on Wednesday, the deadline for candidates to submit their proposals.

The FIGC will now have until May 22 to publish its formal acceptance of the two candidacies, but as per La Gazzetta dello Sport, this is just expected to be a formality. The election itself will take place on June 22.

As things stand, it is expected that Malagò will have a majority of votes in his favour. The former CONI chief already has the backing from the Lega Serie A, the players’ association and the coaches’ association, and on Tuesday evening, it was confirmed that he has the endorsement of the Lega Serie B as well.